Indian Political Thought from Ancient Roots to Modern Thinkers: Tradition, Modernity & the Evolution of Political Ideas in India

Indian Political Thought: From Ancient Roots to Modern Thinkers is not merely a textbook – it is a journey across time, texts, traditions, and transformative ideas that have shaped the Indian political imagination from the Vedic age to the post-independence republic. It begins with the ancient vision of dharma and political order as expressed in the Dharmashastras, the strategic insights of Kautilya’s Arthashastra, and the egalitarian ethics of the Aggannasutta. The medieval section highlights political morality in Barani’s Islamic kingship, the Bhakti resistance of Kabir, and the gendered reformism of Pandita Ramabai. In the modern period, the book illuminates the foundational contributions of thinkers like Phule, Tilak, Vivekananda, Subhas Chandra Bose, Tagore, Gandhi, Aurobindo, and Periyar. Post-independence thinkers such as Ambedkar, Nehru, M.N. Roy, Iqbal, Savarkar, Golwalkar, Upadhyaya, Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan, Narendra Deva, and Madan Mohan Malaviya are included to showcase the ideological diversity and ongoing debates within Indian democracy. Thoughtfully crafted for UGC-NET aspirants, UPSC students, and learners at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, this book invites readers to critically engage with the indigenous foundations of Indian political life and its evolution across centuries.…